Integral retainer, heat shield and assembly

Abstract

A device (20) comprising a planar metal sheet (21;21') having formed thereon at least a first set of opposing shaped slots (60a,b) such that upon forming the planar sheet as an open ended (122) generally cylindrical member or cylinder (28) first portions of the sheet, defined by the slots, extend away from the surface of the formed cylindrical member and form in conjunction with other surfaces of the sheet a plurality of first apertures (62a,b), and the extending first portions serving to define a heat sheet for shielding a portion of an air bag (100), adapted to be secured thereabout, from hot gas generated by a gas generator (50), the device including securement means, interacting with a rearward portion of the cylinderical member and adapted for urging a gas generator (50) into forward facing portions of the cylindrical member, for securing same in place.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device comprising a planar metal sheet having formed thereon at least a first set of opposing shaped slots such that upon forming the planar sheet as an open ended generally cylindrical member or cylinder first portions of the sheet, defined by the slots, extend away from the surface of the formed cylindrical member and form in conjunction with other surfaces of the sheet a plurality of first apertures, and the extending first portions serving to define heat sheet means for shielding a portion of an air bag, adapted to be secured thereabout, from hot gas generated by a gas generator, the formed cylindrical member adapted to receive a gas generator therein, the device including securement means, interacting with a rearward portion of the cylindrical member and adapted for urging a gas generator into forward facing portions of the cylindrical member, for securing same in place. 
     
     
       2. The device as defined in claim 1 where the sides of the sheet, upon forming the cylinder are in overlapping engagement forming the rearward portion of the cylinder, substantially opposite the apertures. 
     
     
       3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the end portions of the sheet, outboard of the slots, upon formation of the cylinder, define respective end bands. 
     
     
       4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein a center portion of the sheet, generally parallel to the sheet sides, upon forming the cylinder, defines an axially extending front side circumferentially separating opposing apertures. 
     
     
       5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein the securement means comprises a first member radially advanceable through the rearward portion of the cylinder and adapted to engage a portion of the gas generator urging same away from the rearward portion and against forward facing portions. 
     
     
       6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein an outer wall of the gas generator is deformable and wherein each first member compressively loads the wall to form a respective depression, and wherein each depression and first member cooperate to radially and axially secure the gas generator to the cylinder. 
     
     
       7. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the first member includes a bolt having external threads thereof and where the securement means further includes first means, at the rearward portion, for receiving the bolt. 
     
     
       8. The device as defined in claim 7 wherein each side of the planar sheet includes a set of first openings which with the sheet sides in overlapping configuration, are registered and coaxially aligned one to the other, and through which a corresponding first member may be received, and a corresponding first means attached thereto. 
     
     
       9. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein the respective ones of the first set of openings are in line with corresponding forward facing portions of the cylinder. 
     
     
       10. The device as defined in claim 8 wherein each first means includes a threaded member attached to a corresponding one the openings through which a corresponding first member is thereby received 
     
     
       11. The device as defined in claim 10 wherein each first means includes a clinch nut or rivet, having internal threads, received through corresponding sets of aligned first openings, for securing the sides of the formed cylinder together and for receiving a corresponding first member. 
     
     
       12. The device as defined in claim 1 including a second set of opposing shaped slots, axially spaced from the first set of slots, such that upon forming the cylinder, second portions of the sheet defined by the second set of slots, tend to extend away from the surface of the cylinder, substantially parallel to the extending first portions to form a plurality of second apertures. 
     
     
       13. The device as defined in claim 1 further including an air bag, in folded configuration, enveloping the cylinder and extending first portions and through which extends each first member, the extending first portions maintains portions of the air bag spaced from the at least first apertures. 
     
     
       14. The device as defined in claim 12 further including an air bag, in folded configuration, enveloping the cylinder and extending first and second portions and through which extends each first member, the extending first and second portions maintaining portions of the air bag spaced from the first and second apertures. 
     
     
       15. The device as defined in claim 13 wherein the cylinder and air bag are received within an outer member having another plurality of openings in registration with the first openings, and wherein each first member extending through a corresponding one of the another openings, and means for attaching same to the outer member 
     
     
       16. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein a gas generator is inserted within the cylinder, the first member moved into contacting engagement therewith securing same within the cylinder and the attaching means moved to lock each first member to the outer member. 
     
     
       17. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein the first member includes a bolt having external threads 
     
     
       18. The device as defined in claim 17 wherein an outer wall of the gas generator is deformable and wherein each first member compressively loads the wall to form a respective depression, and wherein each depression and first member cooperate to radially and axially secure the gas generator to the cylinder. 
     
     
       19. The device as defined in claim 13 wherein the air bag includes therein at least one tether, having a first end secured to an occupant facing surface and having a second end, the second end fixedly secured to the cylinder. 
     
     
       20. The device as defined in claim 19 wherein the second end includes an end aperture positioned about a corresponding first member